A Wellington flight carrying members of the Indian Test squad was forced to abandon its landing in strong winds on Wednesday 11 November, before landing safely on the second attempt. The Wellington flight was Air New Zealand service NZ5817, an ATR 72-600 turboprop, travelling from Hamilton to Wellington. About eight to ten members of the Indian Test contingent were on board, including Test captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain KL Rahul and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj.
The Wellington flight departed Hamilton at 11:43 AM local time, carrying the group to Wellington for red-ball preparations ahead of the first Test at the Basin Reserve from 19 November. Wellington Airport sits beside Cook Strait and is surrounded by hills, and it is known for strong crosswinds, sudden wind shear and turbulence. Those conditions are a regular feature of flying into the capital, and they shaped what happened as the aircraft came in to land.
Wellington flight aborts landing in strong winds
As the aircraft descended to a few hundred feet above the water shortly before 12:45 PM, the pilots aborted the landing and executed a go-around. The aircraft climbed back above 5,000 feet and held over the Cook Strait while the crew prepared for another approach. The decision to go around is a standard safety step when a landing cannot be completed as planned, and the crew then set up for a second attempt.
The pilots landed safely on the second attempt at 1:06 PM, about 26 minutes behind schedule. No injuries were reported among the passengers, and the contingent began preparations for the Test series after reaching Wellington. The group had travelled after the third ODI in Hamilton was abandoned because of rain on Tuesday.
Test squad travels after rain ends third ODI
The third ODI in Hamilton was abandoned because of rain, with the match called off without a ball being bowled. Gill won the toss before the rain and chose to bowl first, and the covers came off briefly for a 40-overs-a-side contest before the rain returned. India lead the five-match ODI series 2-0 after wins in Auckland and Wellington, and the fourth ODI is scheduled for Friday 13 November. The Test group boarded the Wellington flight after the match was called off.
The Wellington flight carried Gill, Rahul and Kamboj to the capital with the rest of the red-ball group. The first Test begins at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 19 November, and the second Test is in Christchurch from 27 November. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Wellington flight lands safely on second attempt
The Wellington flight landed at 1:06 PM, and the players and staff on board were unhurt. The delay of about 26 minutes was the only cost of the aborted landing, and the group was able to start its preparations in Wellington as planned. The incident was a reminder of the conditions that make Wellington Airport one of the more testing places to land in New Zealand.
Wellington Airport’s position beside Cook Strait leaves it open to winds that funnel through the strait, and the hills around the runway add to the gusts that aircraft meet on approach. Pilots who fly the route know the airport for crosswinds and sudden changes in wind speed close to the ground. A go-around in those conditions is a routine safety step, and crews train for it as part of normal operations.
Preparations begin for first Test on 19 November
The Test squad began preparations in Wellington after the Wellington flight landed safely, with the first Test five days away at the time the group arrived. The match at the Basin Reserve starts on 19 November, and the second Test follows in Christchurch from 27 November. The squad will train in Wellington in the days before the first Test, with the ODI series still running in parallel until the final match on Sunday 15 November.
No injuries were reported from the Wellington flight, and the players involved were able to join the rest of the Test preparations without delay. The fourth ODI takes place at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday 13 November, with Shreyas Iyer leading India for the first time in the format.